NASA Working on Solution for Hubble’s Camera

NASA officials announced today that the malfunctioning main camera for the Hubble Space Telescope should be back online by July 3. Ground controllers first learned of a problem with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on June 19, when a voltage spike caused the camera to shut down. Officials think a bad transistor might be responsible for the voltage problem, and believe they can resolve the problem without any degradation to Hubble’s performance.

NASA engineers continue to examine the issues surrounding a problem related to the Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope.

Engineers received indications on Monday, June 19, that the power supply voltages were out of acceptable limits, causing the camera to stop functioning. The camera has been taken off line so engineers can study the problem and determine the appropriate remedy. Hubble observations are continuing using the other science instruments on board.

“We believe we are very close to fully understanding the issue experienced with the camera and we are going to resolve it,” said Ed Ruitberg, deputy associate director, Astrophysics Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. “However, before we proceed with any actions, we want to have a review board meeting to assess both the trouble-shooting and the proposed solution.”

The board will meet at Goddard Thursday, June 29, to decide the best course of action. Engineers anticipate instrument observations will resume no earlier than July 3, with no degradation to performance.

Hubble managers will host a media teleconference Friday morning. Details will be announced following completion of the review board meeting, which may continue throughout Thursday. Audio of the teleconference will be streamed through the NASA Web Portal at: http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

This third-generation instrument consists of three electronic cameras, filters and dispersers that detect light from the ultraviolet to the near infrared. The instrument was installed during a March 2002, servicing mission. It was developed jointly by Goddard, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore; Ball Aerospace, Boulder, Colo.; and the Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore. For information about the Hubble Space Telescope, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/hubble

Original Source: NASA News Release